Folding basket.



A. S. HURSH.

FOLDING BASKET.

APPLICATION TILED JUNEZ2,1910.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I \II M who M013 A. S. HURSH.

' FOLDING BASKET.

APPLICATION FILED JUN22,1910.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

2 SHEETS-MEET 2.

L \[\\A I'LANOORAPH CO WASHINGTON. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

ALBERT S. HURSH, OF MILTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING BASKET.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT S. HUnsH, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Milton, county of Northumberland, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding baskets, the object ofthe invention being to provide a basket which can be readily folded intosmall space, and yet, which when given sufficient erk while holding ontothe handle, will open and remain open for use.

A further object is to provide improvements of this character ofextremely simple inexpensive construction, which can be quickly andeasily manipulated either to open or to fold, and which are strong anddurable in use.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations and arrangements ofparts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a view in side elevationillustrating my improved basket in its open position. Fig. 2, is a viewin longitudinal section. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the bail andhandle. Fig. 4, is a view in longitudinal section of the basket folded.Fig. 5, is a top plan view of the basket with the bail removed, and Fig.6, is a View in cross section.

The basket is made with a shallow boxlike bottom 1, the end Walls 2 ofwhich being slightly higher than the side walls 3.

4, 4, represent the sides of the basket, and 5, 5, the ends. The sidesand the ends are connected with the Walls 2, and 3, by means of rods 6,which project through sleeves 7 on the sides, ends and walls, thesleeves 7 being formed by tongues on the edges of the several parts bentupon themselves, the sleeves of the sides and ends being in alinementwith the sleeves of the Walls, affording a hinged connection between thesides, ends and walls, when the rods 6 are in position.

Coiled springs 8 are positioned on the rods 6 connecting the ends 5 withthe end walls 2, and one end of each spring bears against the end 5,while the other end of the spring bears against the end wall 2, andthese springs exert pressure upon the ends 5, tend- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed June 22, 1910.

Patented Aug. 26,1913. Serial No. 568,321.

ing always to press them inwardly and downwardly into the position ontop of the sides 4, 4, when the latter are folded inwardly as shown inFig. 4.

Spring catches 9 are secured to the extreme ends of ends 5, project atright angles to the ends 5, are located outside of the sides 4, and arebent between their ends forming lugs 10, which are adapted, when thebasket is in open position, to project through openings 11 in the sides4, limiting the outward movement of the sides as well as the inwardmovement of the ends, and when the basket is supported by my improvedhandle, as will hereinafter be explained, the basket will be maintainedin its open form ready for use. To each of the sides 4, plates 12 arefixed and carry secure to the sides, metal eyes 13, to receive thehooked ends 14 of my improved bail 15.

The bail 15 comprises two wires or members, both of which are projectedthrough a tubular handle 16, and are looped at their ends as shown at17, so as to engage around the opposite member and limit the slidingmovement of the member through the handle. By reason of thisconstruction of bail, the desired spring tension may be had to in surethe box being held in open position, and yet permit it to be folded.

When the basket is folded as illustrated in Fig. 4, and it is desired touse the basket, it is simply necessary to grasp the handle 16, and thenwith a considerable jar allow the basket to fall or to drop somedistance, when the action of the bail 15 will. be to swing the sides tovertical position, thus forcing the ends out to vertical position andthe spring catches 9 will engage in the openings 11, and thebaskct willbe ready for use. To fold the basket, it is simply necessary to releasethe catches 9, force the sides inward, the ends following by reason ofthe pressure of the springs 8, when the bail 15 may be folded down ontothe folded basket, and the device will occupy but very small space.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangementof parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I donot limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myselfat liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding basket comprising a bottom, sides and ends hinged to saidbottom, springs exerting inward pressure on said ends, and a bailcomprising a handle and a pair of members telescopically mounted in saidhandle, the outer ends of said members being connected to said sidesrespectively, substantially as described.

2. A folding basket comprising a bottom, sides and ends hingedlyconnected to said bottom, springs exerting inward pressure on said ends,spring catches on said ends, said sides having openings into which saidcatches engage when the device is in open position, said ends adapted tofold inwardly on top of said sides, and a bail fixed to said sideswhereby a sharp pull on the bail will expand said basket, substantiallyas described.

3. A folding basket comprising a bottom, sides and ends hinged to saidbottom, vertically disposed elongated eyes on said sides, and a bailcomprising a handle and a pair of members each having an end telescopingwithin said handle and the Opposite ends connected to said eyes,substantially as de scribed.

4. A folding basket comprising a bottom, sides and ends hingedlyconnected to said bottom, said ends adapted to fold inwardly on top ofsaid sides, springs exerting inward pressure on said ends to normallyhold said sides and ends in folded position, and a bail connected at itsends to said sides, whereby a sharp upward pull on said bail will unfoldsaid sides and said ends to expand said basket, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT S. HURSH. lVit-nesses ARTHUR L. HURsH, RALPH L. Bnnronn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

